Download a PDF of this page here
Clayton_WC_TP_600.jpg



Framing a theory-grounded research agenda related to partnerships
Julie Hatcher, Executive Director, Center for Service and Learning, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis [jhatcher@iupui.edu]

Robert Bringle, Professor, Appalachian State University & Senior Scholar, Center for Service and Learning, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis [rbringle@iupui.edu]

Barbara Jacoby, Faculty Associate for Leadership and Community Service-Learning, University of Maryland [bjacoby@umd.edu]

Keywords: Research agenda, theory, interpersonal relationships, student partnerships, organizational partnerships

Conference track: Community partnerships and outcomes

Format: Symposium

Summary
This symposium is one of five sessions in a series on framing a research agenda in multiple arenas: students, faculty, institutions, communities, and partnerships. Drawing on Research on Service Learning: Conceptual Frameworks and Assessment (Clayton, Bringle, & Hatcher, in press), we will discuss theories relevant to research related to partnerships between and among all constituents in service-learning, critique previous research in this arena, and collaboratively generate recommendations for practice and future research.

Julie Hatcher will open the session by inviting collaborative critique of research related to partnerships. Hatcher will share a model for conceptualizing research in terms of the convergence of theory, design, practice, and measurement (Bringle, Clayton, & Hatcher, in press) and will facilitate discussion of her colleagues’ work accordingly.

Bob Bringle will bring theory related to interpersonal relationships to bear on our discussion of research related to partnerships, and he will propose the SOFAR model (Students, community Organization staff, Faculty, Administrators on campus, and community Residents) as a framework for differentiating and organizing the wide range of relationships involved in service learning. A research agenda for how the many relationships between and among the full set of individuals can be investigated through the lens of their partnership status and potential will be outlined.

Barbara Jacoby will focus our attention on student partnerships with the other constituents in service learning. Students enact numerous roles in these partnerships, including but not limited to learners, teaching assistants, peer leaders, reflection facilitators, co-designers of projects and courses, researchers, advocates, organizers, advisors, mentors, and scholars. Dewey and Freire’s theories provide means of conceptualizing students as civic actors to influence communities, democracy, culture, class, and race (Deans, 1999). A research agenda related to student partnerships will be outlined.

Emily Janke’s (2008, 2009) work on inquiry into organization-level partnerships, which draws on theory related to interorganizational relationships and partnership entities will also be shared. Applied to the study of service-learning partnerships, an organizational-level approach enables researchers to study the way in which information, decisions, expectations, and actions are made by organizations.

References
Anderson, K. S., & Sandmann, L. (2009). Toward a model of empowering practices in youth-adult partnerships. Journal of Extension, 47(2), 1-8.

Bailis, L. N. (2000). Taking service learning to the next level: Emerging lessons from the National Community Development Program. Springfield, VA: National Society for Experiential Education.

Bell-Elkins, J. (2002). Assessing the CCPH principles of partnership in a community-campus partnership. Retrieved from Community-Campus Partnerships for Health: http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/researchprojects.html

Bringle, R. G. (2003). Enhancing theory-based research on service-learning. In S. H. Billig & J. Eyler (Eds.), Deconstructing service-learning: Research exploring context, participation, and impacts (pp. 3–21). Greenwich, CT: Information Age.

Bringle, R. G., & Clayton, P. H. (in press). Conceptual frameworks for partnerships in service learning: Implications for research. In P. H. Clayton, R. G. Bringle, & J. A. Hatcher (Eds.), Research on service learning: Conceptual frameworks and assessment. (Vol. 2B). Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Bringle, R. G., Clayton, P. H., & Hatcher, J. A. (in press). Research on service learning: An introduction. In P. H. Clayton, R. G. Bringle, & J. A. Hatcher, (Eds). Research on service learning: Conceptual frameworks and assessment. (Vol. 2A & 2B). Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Bringle, R. G., Clayton, P. H., & Price, M. (2009). Partnerships in service learning and civic engagement. Partnerships: A Journal of Service-Learning and Civic Engagement, 1(1), 1-20.

Bringle, R. G., & Hatcher, J. A. (2000). Meaningful measurement of theory-based service-learning outcomes: Making the case with quantitative research [Special issue]. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, Fall, 68-75.

Bringle, R. G., & Hatcher, J. A. (2002). University-community partnerships: The terms of engagement. Journal of Social Issues, 58(3), 503–516.

Clayton, P. H., Bringle, R. G., & Hatcher, J. A. (Eds). (in press). Research on service learning: Conceptual frameworks and assessment (Vol. 2A & 2B). In R. G. Bringle & J. A. Hatcher (Series Eds.), IUPUI Series on Service Learning Research. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Clayton, P. H., Bringle, R. G., Senor, B., Huq, J., & Morrison, M. (2010). Differentiating and assessing relationships in service-learning and civic engagement: Exploitive, transactional, and transformational. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 16(2), 5-21.

Cruz, N., & Giles, D. E., Jr. (2000). Where’s the community in service-learning research [Special issue]. Michigan Journal of Community Service-Learning, Fall, 28-34.

Deans, T. (1999). Service learning in two keys: Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy in relation to John Dewey’s pragmatism. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 6, 15-29.

Fisher, I., & Wilson, S. H. (2003). Partnerships with students. In B. Jacoby (Ed.), Building partnerships for service learning (pp. 81-105). San Francisco, CA: Jossey- Bass.

Gass, E. (2010). A new model of university-community partnerships. Partnerships: A Journal of Service Learning and Civic Engagement, 1(2), 1-13.

Gelmon, S. B., Holland, B. A., Shinnamon, A., Connors, K., & Seifer, S. D. (1998). Community-university partnerships for mutual learning. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 5(1), 97-107.

Hodgkinson, V. A. (2004). Developing a research agenda on civic service. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 33(4), 184S-197S.

Jacoby, B. (Ed.). (2003). Building partnerships for service learning. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Jacoby, B. (in press). Student partnerships in service learning: Conceptual frameworks and research. In P. H. Clayton, R. G. Bringle, & J. A. Hatcher (Eds.), Research on service learning: Conceptual frameworks and assessment. (Vol. 2B). Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Janke, E. M. (2008). Shared partnership identity between faculty and community partners (Doctoral dissertation). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. (UMI No. 3336046)

Janke, E. M. (2009). Defining characteristics of partnership identity in faculty-community partnerships. In. B. Moely, S. Billig, & B. A. Holland (Eds.), Creating our identities in service-learning and community engagement (pp. 75-101). Charlotte, NC: Information Age.

Janke, E. M. (in press). Organizational partnerships in service learning: Advancing theory-based research. In P. H. Clayton, R. G. Bringle, & J. A. Hatcher (Eds.), Research on service learning: Conceptual frameworks and assessment. (Vol. 2B). Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Longo, N. V., & Gibson, C. M. (Eds.). (2011). From command to community: A new approach to leadership education in colleges and universities. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England.

Musil, C. (2003). Educating for citizenship. Peer Review, 5(3),4-8.

Oliver, C. (1990). Determinants of inter-organizational relationships: Integration and future directions. Academy of Management Review, 15, 241-265.

Saltmarsh, J., & Hartley, M. (Eds.). (2011). “To serve a larger purpose”: Engagement for democracy and transformation of higher education. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.

Zlotkowski, E., Longo, N. V., & Williams, J. R. (Eds.). (2006). Students as colleagues: Expanding the circle of service learning leadership. Providence, RI: Campus Compact.

To access materials from this session please click on the file link(s) below:








Subject Author Replies Views Last Message
Theory? phclayton phclayton 0 33 Sep 11, 2012 by phclayton phclayton